The world of Rascal Does Not Dream has always delved into the perplexing phenomena of Puberty Syndrome, exploring the intricate psychological challenges faced by its characters. The latest installment, Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, has continued this tradition, bringing protagonist Sakuta Azusagawa into his university years with new mysteries to unravel. Episode 12, titled “Reindeer’s Work,” serves as the season’s climactic finale, delivering a pivotal revelation that reshapes understanding of the enigmatic “Miniskirt Santa.”
The University Arc and the Enigmatic Santa Claus
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus adapts the “University Student Arc” of Hajime Kamoshida’s light novel series. Now a university student alongside his girlfriend, Mai Sakurajima, Sakuta finds himself unable to fully escape the pervasive influence of Puberty Syndrome. His new phase of life introduces him to another mysterious figure: a girl in a Santa Claus costume, visible only to him. This “Miniskirt Santa” claims to be the source of various new instances of Puberty Syndrome and introduces herself as Toko Kirishima.
The season explores Sakuta’s efforts to help Uzuki Hirokawa, a member of the idol group Sweet Bullet, who experiences Puberty Syndrome due to pressures surrounding a potential solo career. As Sakuta navigates these new cases, the presence of the Miniskirt Santa looms large, hinting at a deeper, more personal connection to the unfolding events.
Episode 12: “Reindeer’s Work” – A Deep Dive into Identity
Episode 12, “Reindeer’s Work,” which premiered on September 20, 2025, on Crunchyroll, brings the “Santa Claus Arc” to its dramatic conclusion. The episode’s central revelation redefines the true nature of the Miniskirt Santa and the complexities of the Puberty Syndrome affecting her.
The Deception of Touko Kirishima
Throughout the season, Sakuta has been interacting with a girl who identifies as Touko Kirishima, the “Miniskirt Santa” responsible for spreading Puberty Syndrome. However, “Reindeer’s Work” unmasks a profound truth: the girl Sakuta has been assisting is not the original Touko Kirishima, but rather a girl named Nene.
Nene’s story is one of identity crisis and desperation. Once a prominent figure at her university, her life took a drastic turn with the arrival of the nationally famous actress Mai Sakurajima. Feeling completely overshadowed and losing her sense of self, Nene sought an escape. She found it in the online persona of Touko Kirishima, a popular anonymous YouTuber whose voice was strikingly similar to her own.
Puberty Syndrome’s Grip: Becoming Touko
Nene’s deep-seated desire to escape her collapsing identity as Nene, coupled with Puberty Syndrome, led to a unique and tragic manifestation. By rejecting her true self, everyone around her began to forget her existence as Nene. Concurrently, by embracing the identity of the online singer Touko, Nene became trapped within that persona, unable to interact with the world unless she was creating music or videos. This left her in a painful limbo, forgotten by her friends, including her boyfriend who had worked hard to join her university.
The episode highlights Sakuta’s unwavering efforts to help Nene, even as her boyfriend struggles to recognize her. The emotional climax arrives as Nene, in her profound pain and desire to maintain the only identity she feels she has left, makes a critical decision: she fully discards her memories associated with being Nene, committing entirely to the persona of Touko. This act, while seemingly a solution for her, underscores the poignant theme that she is not the real Touko Kirishima, further complicating the layers of identity and self-acceptance within the narrative.
Themes of Identity and Self-Acceptance
Episode 12 of Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus powerfully explores the recurring themes of identity, self-worth, and the societal pressures that can lead to Puberty Syndrome. Nene’s case is a poignant example of how external factors—such as comparisons to others or the desire for recognition—can lead an individual to reject their true self and seek refuge in an alternate persona. The episode forces both Sakuta and the audience to confront the emotional cost of such a transformation and the profound impact of being forgotten.
The Rascal Does Not Dream series consistently uses supernatural elements to externalize and visualize internal adolescent struggles. Nene’s inability to be seen as herself, and her subsequent adoption of another’s identity, serves as a metaphor for the struggle many face in finding their place and accepting who they are in a world that often demands conformity or exceptionalism.
What’s Next for Sakuta?
With the “Santa Claus Arc” concluding, Episode 12 leaves Sakuta Azusagawa to reflect on the consequences of Nene’s choices and the ongoing enigma of Puberty Syndrome. As the series progresses, viewers can anticipate further exploration of Sakuta’s university life and his continued encounters with individuals affected by these mysterious phenomena. The emotional weight of “Reindeer’s Work” ensures that the lessons learned about identity and the value of one’s true self will resonate deeply as the Rascal Does Not Dream narrative unfolds.
